Robot Furniture Can Rid Home of Vermin (and Eat Them!)

Imagine a lamp that is a robot, and then imagine that this robot lamp just happens to also trap and eat flies.  The next stage in domestic robots could be robotic furniture that doubles as a mousetrap or a flytrap.  Not only do these robots fit in a room as furniture and eat pests-they can use the pests as fuel to power themselves.

RobotNext had an early post that covered an insect digesting robot called the Ecobot.  These furniture robots are based on the same research carried out at the University of Bristol. 

James Auger, at the Royal College of Art, London and his collaborator and fellow designer Jimmy Loizeau have constructed domestic robots in the form of furniture pieces that can sense their surrounding and learn from them.  These bots can also perform basic tasks for people, such as telling the time or lighting a room.

There are two references to this post listed below.  The first is from ZDNet and the second is from New Scientist.  Click on the links below for more of the story.


Photo Credit:  ZDNet Blogs

Robo-furniture eats household pests
ZDNet Blogs
The idea of using vermin as fuel was inspired by researchers at the Bristol Robotics Lab, UK. They already developed a fly-powered robot in '04 and have
and more »

Robo-furniture eats household pests – ZDNet Blogs
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:59:47 GMT

copylamprobot

Image: Auger-Loizeau

Futuristic-looking robots like Honda's sleek humanoid Asimo don't cut it for designer James Auger, at the Royal College of Art, London. Believing that they need to fit unobtrusively into the home, he has built robotic furniture. And, believing they need to be useful and entertaining, he has given the furniture an appetite for vermin, like mice and flies.

Gallery: Domestic robots with a taste for flesh-New Scientist
Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:19:00 GMT

Robot Surgeon Finds Tiny Shrapnel Pieces

This robot could change the way some surgeries are done.  Biopsies could be done almost anywhere and cost only a few dollars.  I see these robots being used by the military to treat combat wounds.  Robotic surgeries are becoming more common for even very complicated procedures.  Check out the articles at the links below.  Look at the link on the photo and see what you think about this machine.

Robot Surgeon

Photo Credit:  Duke University |

June 25, 2009 — A robotic surgeon at Duke University has successfully found and guided a needle to a sliver of steel shrapnel, completely without human help. The technology could reduce the cost and time necessary to complete a biopsy and other …

Robot Surgeon Finds Tiny Shrapnel – Discovery News
Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:41:00 GMT

Robots That Learn Like Babies

Intelligence is the thing missing from robots today.  Researchers are working to develop ways for robots to develop human-like intelligence.  In humans, intelligence is developed during the growth process, so if robots are ever to become intelligent, they will have to acquire the ability to learn over many years.  Now, robot research is designing machines that can mimic how babies grow and develop.  Einstein, as the robot is called, has 27 motors in its face that give it dozens of expressions.  The point of this is to give a robot the ability to relate to humans.  Read the article below at Smithsonian for more details.

Javier-Movellan-develops-robot-lovevs-humans-388

Building a robot that humans can love is pretty ambitious.  But Javier Movellan (in his San Diego lab with RUBI) says he would like to develop a robot that loves humans.

Photo Credit:  Timothy Archibald

Einstein the robot has enchanting eyes, the color of honey in sunlight. They are fringed with drugstore-variety false eyelashes and framed by matted gray brows made from real human hair.

Robot Babies
Smithsonian – USA
Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:53:19 GMT

Bio-Inspired Robotics Laboratory

Robots that are modeled on nature have intrigued me for several months.  This seems like the next major area for breakthroughs in robotics.  Now, I spotted this job placement request on my newsfeed.  Starting in August of 2009, a new laboratory will open at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland.  Fumiya Iida, Dr. sc. nat., will be the director.   His research interest includes biologically inspired robotics, embodied artificial intelligence, and biomechanics.  His research includes robots modeled on cats, dogs, monkeys, and many other nature models.  Look on his website for some great photos of robots that he has built and worked with in his research.

 
Bio-Inspired Robotics Laboratory
(Director: Fumiya Iida)
Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
(ETH Zurich) Switzerland
http://www.iris.ethz.ch/


Photo Credit:  Fumiya IIDA Dr. sc. nat.

Posdoc/PhD Positions at ETH Zurich, Bio-Inspired Robotics Laboratory
Youngester (noreply@blogger.com)
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:45:00 GMT

Robots Changing Rules of Command

Command of military forces has changed and robots are the reason.  Robots are creating the next battlefield.  The use of robots has caused two major events to occur in war-fighting.  First, robots have given the soldier in the field unprecedented power.  Corporals have control of robots with great destructive capability and the ability to make the decision to use that force in an instant.  Second, generals in command centers far from the site of the battle can micromanage the tactics of units because of their ability to use drone robots to observe, and therefore direct, small units directly.  In some cases, according to this article from the Brookings Institute, generals have been known to order a single soldier to change positions.

Robots are incredible force multipliers on the battlefield.  How will the military learn to deal with this?  More importantly, how will the government of the United States redesign the military command structure to adapt to the use of robots?

Military Robot 

Photo Credit:  http://robotstocknews.blogspot.com and iRobot

The Rise of the Tactical General
Brookings Institution, DC
Forty-two other countries have military robotics programs, as well as a host of nonstate actors. But like any major change in war, the robot revolution is not turning out to be the frictionless triumph of technology that some would describe it.

The Rise of the Tactical General – Brookings Institution
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:55:47 GMT

Fish Robot Models Next Method of Ship Propulsion

Here is the next robot model from nature—a fish.  Here at RobotNext, there have been reports of many types of robots based on nature.  Now, robot fish may be able to demonstrate that the motions of a swimming fish could be used to move ships through the ocean.  If this could be done, it is possible that a eco-friendly propulsion method could be developed for vessels sailing the oceans.  Researchers hope to demonstrate that the swimming robot can provide a way to prevent damage to shorelines and the seabed.  Read more about this development in the article at Science Daily as reported by WWW.OLOSCIENCE.COM  at the links below.

SOURCE

ScienceDaily (June 11, 2009) — The team of Darmstadt researchers analyzed videos of fish’s motions and then developed a prototype fish robot that duplicated them, and are now testing it using the locomotional patterns of various species of fish in order to refine it and improve its efficiency.

Adapted from materials provided by Technische Universität Darmstadt, via AlphaGalileo.

Fish Robot As An Alternative Marine Propulsion System Of The Future
WWW.OLOSCIENCE.COM (f.intilla@bluewin.ch)
Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:58:00 GMT

Robot Scouts May Assist Humans in the Exploration of the Moon

Robots have been the trailblazers in space exploration.  In particular, Ranger, Surveyor, and the Lunar Orbiters paved the way to the lunar landings in the Apollo Program.  Now, tests are planned to see if robot scouts can aid human explorers on future missions to the Moon.  What these current and future robots will do that sets them apart from the earlier machines is that they will work closely with the humans on the moon’s surface. 

During Apollo surface operations, the astronauts did recon and geological exploration at the same time.  In the return to the Moon around 2020, robots will be tasked to reconnaissance.  This should make the astronauts work more productive.  During the upcoming testing of the K10, researchers hope to show that robots can increase the science return of the human missions.  Check out the article at the link below for more information.

K10 Rover

Credit: NASA Image

K10 Rover during testing on Devon Island at the Haughton Mars Project Research Station in July 2007.  Robotic Recon experiment will investigate how robots can improve the productivity and science return of human missions. Why …

Robotic Reconnaissance May Improve Human Exploration of the Moon – SpaceRef
Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:37:00 GMT

Robots Are Really Cooking Now

Robot chef 2

Photo Credit:  The Sun

Industry and the military have been two of the biggest users of robots.  Now
it is time for robots to move into the home in a big way.  Sure, robot vacuums
have been used in many homes for years, but there is a real need to see robots
in more common roles.  Robots need to be able to perform such tasks as cooking
and security.  Now the Japanese have created robots that can cook pancakes,
prepare sushi, and chop vegetables.  Check out the article link below for the
story from Reuters
It includes video of the robot cooking Japanese pancakes.

Robots will be moving into American homes to perform many tasks.  Mostly, I
believe, these robots will be used by an aging population.  These machines will
allow older people to remain in their homes and not have to go to nursing
homes.  See the second article for the complete story.

These two stories are related by the common theme of robots moving into the
home.  In the very near future robots will not only do routine jobs around the
house–they will be a valuable companion.

Japan
prepares robots to take over the kitchen

"We all know that robots can be very useful. We want to take that utility out
of the factory so that they can be used elsewhere," said Narito Hosomi,
president of Toyo Riki, manufacturers of the pancake-cooking
robot.

Japan
prepares robots to take over the kitchen

Wed
Jun 10, 2009 6:28am EDT

Robots
are a man's best friend

KIVI-TV, ID
Yet the idea of robots conjures
images of aliens descending from the mothership rather than utilitarian
efficiency. But get ready, because robotics are coming to the American household
full force. Oh, they're already here, of course, in industrial and

Robots
are a man's best friend – KIVI-TV

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:49:07 GMT

Robot Serpent for the Battlefield

Snakebots are back in the news again, but this time as a weapon.  RobotNext has posted articles about robot snakes that have been developed with the purpose of traversing difficult terrain or tight places in order to perform mostly humanitarian or rescue purposes.  This robot will save lives in a different way.  According to the Jerusalem Post, this snakebot is controlled by a soldier with a laptop computer.  In a demonstration of its abilities, it was shown slithering along in caves, tunnels, and buildings as it transmitted video and sound back to the controller.  Check out the article links below for the complete story.


The new IDF robot snake
Photo: Channel 2

Israeli Defense Force Creates Robot Snake To Use On Battlefield
AHN
Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) – The Israeli Defense Force has created a "robot snake" capable of recording video and sound on the battlefield. The technologically advanced snake, which is about two meters long and covered in army camouflage,
'Robot Snake' Offers A New Wave In Military Spy Technology ChattahBox
IDF developing battlefield robot snake Jerusalem Post
Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 09, @03:32PM Slashdot
New Zealand Herald
all 15 news articles

Israeli Defense Force Creates Robot Snake To Use On Battlefield – AHN
Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:34:43 GMT

PR2: Plugging Along for Robots That Can Relate

PR2_ConceptC400x252



Photo Credit:  Willow Garage

Imagine a robot that can navigate through closed doors, around objects, and find electrical outlets to recharge its batteries.  An experimental robot developed at Willow Garage has done just that.  This machine negotiated its way through the course in under an hour according to researchers.

John Markoff, in the online version of the New York Times, reported the following:

Willow Garage, a Silicon Valley robotics research group, said that its experimental PR2 robot, which has wheels and can travel at speeds up to a mile and a quarter per hour, was able to open and pass through 10 doors and plug itself into 10 standard wall sockets in less than an hour.

In the article titled Opening Doors on the Way to a Personal Robot, Mr. Markoff details the progress of the research robot.  For more information and video of the robot, check out the website link below.

The PR2 development platform is a two-armed mobile robot designed for mobile manipulation research and applications. Its size and proportions are similar to that of a human, optimizing its ability to perform tasks in everyday
haha.nu – http://haha.nu/

Personal Robot 2 | haha.nu – the lifestyle blogzine
hahanu
Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:12:09 GMT

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